Toeboard clamp for steel scaffolding

ABSTRACT

A clamp comprises a U-shaped rod with a semicircular bight portion that embraces a rear side of a post. Its legs project forwardly from the bight portion, to overlie the top edge of an edgewise upright board, thence downwardly to confine the board against the post. The bight portion can be welded to a length of tubing that encircles the post and through which a set screw extends. Or a second member having a semicircular post embracing portion can be rigidly connected to said bight portion by an elongated element that holds the semicircular portions coaxial, spaced vertically and opening forwardly.

United States Patent 1 Juculano 1 Jan. 15, 1974 1 1 TOEBOARD CLAMP FORSTEEL SCAFFOLDING [75] Inventor: Charles T. .luculano, Oshkosh, Wis.

221 Filed: Mar. 2, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 231,266

[52] US. Cl. 2418/214, 182/113 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6m 13/02 [58] Field ofSearch 248/302, 214, 215,

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,222,230 8/1966 Germany 182/113 625,833l/l963 Belgium ..248/302 Primary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss AttorneylraMilton Jones [57] ABSTRACT A clamp comprises a U-shaped rod with asemicircular bight portion that embraces a rear side of a post. Its legsproject forwardly from the bight portion, to overlie the top edge of anedgewise upright board, thence downwardly to confine the board againstthe post. The bight portion can be welded to a length of tubing thatencircles the post and through which a set screw extends. Or a secondmember having a semicircular post embracing portion can be rigidlyconnected to said bight portion by an elongated element that holds thesemicircular portions coaxial, spaced vertically and opening forwardly.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 1 I I 3. 785.602

SHEEI 1 BF 3 TOEBOARD CLAMP FOR STEEL SCAFFOLIDING This inventionrelates to a clamp that is especially well adapted for use with modularsteel scaffolding and similar structures and the invention is moreparticularly concerned with a quickly releasable clamp for securingso-called toeboards to the guard rail posts that rise from the overheadwork platforms of scaffolding.

The type of scaffolding most commonly used today on sizeable buildingand repair projects consists of readily interconnectable modules orframes fabricated from steel tubing. Such sectional steel scaffoldingcan be quickly erected into a framework upon which planks or plywood canbe laid to provide an elevated work platform.

Government safety regulations require that guard rails and toeboards beinstalled on all open sides and ends of platforms more than 6 feet abovethe ground or floor. The guard rails are clamped to posts that aresecured to the top of the uprights of the topmost frames, and hence riseabove the work platform. The posts are spaced along the outer edges andends of the platform, and the guard rails which are clamped to the postsare at a level sufficiently above the platform to protect the workmenagainst accidentally slipping off the platform.

For the protection of persons and property beneath the work platform, itis important to prevent tools and materials from being kicked or pushedover the edge of it. To that end, the safety regulations require thatthere be barriers along the outer edges and ends of the platform toprevent any article sliding along the platform from going over its edge.These barriers are most conveniently provided by edgewise upright boardscalled toeboards.

In the past, toeboards have been secured in place by means of rathercomplicated and expensive clamps installed upon the upright posts or bysuch makeshaft expedients as wires wrapped around the posts and thetoeboards.

By contrast, it is the general object of this invention to provide aclamp by which a toeboard or the like can be confined against a guardrail post, to be thereby held in an edgewise upright position, whichclamp can be manufactured very inexpensively and can be applied andremoved in a matter of seconds.

It is another and more specific object of this invention, achieved inone embodiment thereof, to provide a very simple and inexpensive clampwhich is permanently assembled with or mounted on a guard rail post andwhich can be quickly locked to the post to guard against displacementfrom an operative position holding a toeboard in place.

It is also an object of this invention, achieved in another embodimentthereof, to provide a very simple and inexpensive toeboard clamp formodular steel scaffolding and the like, which clamp can be very quicklyassembled to or removed from a post or other upright member with whichthe clamp cooperates by simple bodily movement of the clamp verticallyand laterally relative to the upright member.

With these observations and objectives in mind, the manner in which theinvention achieves its purpose will be appreciated from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings which exemplify the invention,it being understood that changes may be made in the specific apparatusdisclosed herein without departing from the essentials of the inventionset forth in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate three complete examples ofembodiments of the invention constructed according to the best modes sofar devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, andin which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a section of scaffolding, illustratingthe manner in which the toeboard clamps of this invention are employedto hold toeboards in place;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of that form of clamp which can be securedto or removed from a post by its mere bodily motion relative to thepost, and which can be used to quickly and reliably secure a toeboard orthe like to the post;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of that embodiment of the invention whereinthe toeboard clamps are permanently assembled with the guard rail posts;and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of that form ofthe invention shown in FIG. 3, but showing the clamp removed from thepost.

In general, the clamp of this invention comprises rigid post engagingmeans 5 and rigid leg defining means 6 anchored to the post engagingmeansv In its operative position, the clamp cooperates with the post 7to which it is attached, to hold an elongated horizontally extendingmember such as a toeboard 8 in edgewise upright position along an edgeof a work platform 9 and against the post.

' In those embodiments of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4,the post engaging means comprises a tube 11 cut from conventional steeltubing of a size to slideably receive or embrace the post 7, and the legdefining means comprises a unitary substantially U- shaped rod 12 thatis secured to the tube 11 as by a weldment 13.

The U-shaped rod 12 has a semicircular medial bight portion 14 whichclosely embraces the tube 11 around the rear side thereof and to whichthe weldment 13 is made. From its bight portion parallel inner legportions 15 extend forwardly to project beyond the front side of thetube. The inner leg portions 15 are transverse to the tube axis, and attheir outer ends right angle bends l6 connect the inner leg portionswith outer leg portions 117 that are parallel to said axis and spacedforwardly of the tube. The bight portion 14 of the rod 12 is welded tothe tube 111 near the top end of the latter, and the outer leg portions17 extend lengthwise of the tube towards its bottom end.

When the clamp is on a post 7 holding a toeboard in place, the inner legportions 15 extend transversely across the top edge of the toeboard thatis to be secured to the post, and the outer leg portions 17 overlie thefar side of the board and thereby confine the board against the frontface of the post, or more accurately, the tube 11.

Since the toeboard sets upon the edge portion of the platform, gravityholds the clamp in engagement with the toeboard. However, to guardagainst accidental upward displacement of the clamp the tube 11 may bereleasably secured against movement relative to the post by a set screw19 that has a threaded connection with the tube and projects through thewall thereof at its rear side. The setscrew is preferably provided witha winged head 20 so that it can be tightened or loosened without the useof tools.

1n the embodiment of the invention just described, the toeboard clamp ispermanently assembled with a guard rail post, being confined thereon bythe lowermost rail attaching screw 21 and a collar 22 which may besimply a ring of weldment.

The other embodiment of this invention that is illustrated in FIG. 2 canbe installed onto or removed from any post of suitable size, at anytime, to confine the toeboard against displacement.

In effect, the clamp of the FIG. 2 embodiment, is a skeletonized versionof the clamp illustrated in FIG. 3.

Thus, the FIG. 2 embodiment comprises merely a pair of integral rod-likemembers 23 and 24, each bent to substantially a U-shape, which membersare permanently and rigidly secured together as by means of weldments25. The U-shaped member 23, which is bent from a longer length of rodstock than the member 24, corresponds very closely to the member 12 thatcomprises the leg defining means of the FIG. 3 embodiment, except thatthe member 23 has its semicircular bight portion bent to a radius smallenough to directly and closely embrace the post, rather than fittingaround a tube which in turn encircles the post. Thus the U- shapedmember 23, like its above described counterpart 12, has short innerhorizontal leg portions 15 and longer outer vertical downwardlyprojecting leg portions 17 connected by right angle bends 16.

The medial bight portion of the smaller U-shaped member 24 is bent to asemicircle of the same radius as the bight portion of the other U-shapedmember and the bight portions of the two U-shaped members define thecurved post-engaging surface portions of the clamp.

The smaller U-shaped member 24 has its legs 26 disposed at right anglesto the plane of its bight portion to extend upwardly therefrom parallelto the axis about which the bight portion is curved. The weldments 25join the tips of its legs to the bight portion of the larger member nearthe junctions of said bight portion with the inner leg portions 15. Thelegs 26 of the smaller member thus serve to hold the bight portions ofthe two members in concentric, axially spaced relation, with both bightportions opening forwardly to engage around the rear side of a post.When the clamp is in use, the legs 26 of the smaller member overlie therear face of the toeboard engaged by the clamp, and are preferably sodisposed with respect to the axis of the bight portions as to be spacedslightly behind the board so that the board can be held against thepost.

The clamp shown in FIG. 2 is installed by moving it forwardly intoengagement against the post to which it is to be secured, at a levelabove the toeboard, and then sliding the clamp straight down the postuntil its inner leg portions 15 contact the top edge of the board andits outer leg portions 17 overlie the front face of the board.

As shown in FIG. 4, a relatively simple modification of either of theabove described embodiments of this invention gives them the addedadvantage of holding in position one end of the toeboard 8' that extendsalong the end of the platform as shown at the left hand corner of thescaffold illustrated in FIG. 1.

For this purpose, the extremities of the outer leg portions 17 haveforwardly directed fingers 27 which straddle the adjacent end portion ofthe toeboard and hold it in line with the post 7 on which the clamp ismounted. It is of course understood that the straddled end of thetoeboard 8' abuts the inner face of the toeboard 8 and that the oppositeend of the short toeboard 8' is held against the adjacent post 7 by oneof the clamps.

Although FIG. 4 shows the fingers 27 on the leg portions 17 of the FIG.3 form of clamp, it is obvious that the FIG. 2 embodiment of theinvention could likewise be provided with such fingers.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can beembodied in forms other than as herein disclosed for purposes ofillustration.

The invention is defined by the following claims:

1. A clamp by which a board such as a scaffold planking toeboard can bereleasably confined in edgewise upright position against a post such asa scaffold post, said clamp comprising:

A. a pair of generally U-shaped rod-like members that have semicircularbight portions of substantially equal radius, each of which can closelyembrace one side of a post,

1. the legs of one of said U-shaped members having medial right anglebends in the same direction, to define parallel inner leg portionscoplanar with its bight portion and outer leg portions parallel to theaxis of curvature of its bight portion,

2. the legs of the other U-shaped member being parallel to the axis ofcurvature of its bight portion and both projecting in the samedirection; and

B. means securing the outer ends of the legs of said other U-shapedmember to the first mentioned U- shaped member near the junctions of itsinner leg portions with its bight portion, with the legs of said otherU-shaped member projecting in the opposite direction to said outer legportions and parallel to them, and with the axes of curvature of saidbight portions concentric, so that the bight portions of said memberscan embrace axially spaced apart zones of a post at one side thereof forconfining a board between the other side of the post and said outer legportions.

2. A clamp by which a board, such as a scaffold planking toeboard, canbe releasably confined in an edgewise upright position against a post,said clamp comprising:

A. a first substantially U-shaped rod-like member having 1. a medialsubstantially semicircular bight portion which can fit around a rearside of a post,

2. parallel inner leg portions which extend forwardly from the bightportion and are long enough to overlie the upper edge of a board thathas a rear face engaging the front side of the post, and

3. outer leg portions which project downwardly from said inner legportions to overlie the front face of the board;

B. a second substantially U-shaped rod-like member having I. a medialsubstantially semicircular bight portion of substantially the sameradius as the bight portion of the first member, and

2. parallel legs which project upwardly from its bight portion; and

C. means securing the upper ends of the legs of the second member to thefirst member near the junctions of its said inner leg portions with itsbight portion, said securement means disposing the legs of the secondmember parallel to the outer leg portions of the first member and adistance behind them, to overlie the rear face of a board, and disposingthe bight portion of the second member concentrically with and beneaththe bight portion of the first member. 3. A clamp by which a board canbe releasably confined in edgewise upright position with a rear face ofthe board bearing against a front side of a post, said clamp comprising:

A. a pair of rigid arcuate elements, each curved about an axis to beclosely engageable around a rear side of a post; B. rigid elongatedmeans connecting said elements and holding them in coaxial, axiallyspaced apart relationship, both opening forwardly; and C. a pair ofelongated, rigid generally parallel board engaging fingers on one ofsaid elements, each of said fingers having I. a portion that extendsforwardly from an end of said element to overlie an upper edge of aboard, and

2. a portion that projects from the last memtioned portion in adirection generally toward the other element, to overlie a front face ofa board.

4. A clamp by which an elongated horizontal member can be readilyreleasably confined against an upright post, said clamp comprising:

A. rigid post engaging means in the form of upper and lower U-shapedmembers adapted to embrace an upright post with the bight portionsthereof engaging the same side of the post at vertically spacedlocations;

B. connection means securing said upper and lower U-shaped members inaligned superimposed relationship; and

C. a pair of retaining members fixed with respect to said upper andlower U-shaped members and by which an elongated horizontal member maybe held against an upright post on which said device is mounted, saidretaining members having ll inner leg portions that form extensions ofthe legs of the upper U-shaped member to extend across the horizontalmember which is to be held against the post, and

2. outer leg portions which project downwardly from the extremities ofthe inner leg portions towards the lower U-shaped member to overlie theside of the horizontal member remote from the side thereof that facesthe post.

5. The clamp of claim 4, further characterized by:

outwardly projecting parallel fingers on the extremities of said outerleg portions.

6. A retaining device for readily releasably confining an elongatedmember against an upright post, compris- A. rigid post engaging meanshaving upper and lower portions both of which are engageable with thesame side of an upright post at vertically spaced locations thereof; and

B. retaining means fixed to said rigid post engaging means andcomprising a pair of rods, each bent into a right-angle with a short legand a long leg, the short legs being joined to the upper portion of saidrigid post engaging means and projecting therefrom to extend across anelongated member which is to be confined against a post on which thedevice is mounted, and the long legs having their free endssubstantially in line with the lower portion of the post engaging meansand being equispaced from both the upper and lower portions of the postengaging means a distance to confine the elongated member against theupright post on which the device is mounted.

1. A clamp by which a board such as a scaffold planking toeboard can bereleasably confined in edgewise upright posiTion against a post such asa scaffold post, said clamp comprising: A. a pair of generally U-shapedrod-like members that have semicircular bight portions of substantiallyequal radius, each of which can closely embrace one side of a post, 1.the legs of one of said U-shaped members having medial right angle bendsin the same direction, to define parallel inner leg portions coplanarwith its bight portion and outer leg portions parallel to the axis ofcurvature of its bight portion,
 2. the legs of the other U-shaped memberbeing parallel to the axis of curvature of its bight portion and bothprojecting in the same direction; and B. means securing the outer endsof the legs of said other Ushaped member to the first mentioned U-shapedmember near the junctions of its inner leg portions with its bightportion, with the legs of said other U-shaped member projecting in theopposite direction to said outer leg portions and parallel to them, andwith the axes of curvature of said bight portions concentric, so thatthe bight portions of said members can embrace axially spaced apartzones of a post at one side thereof for confining a board between theother side of the post and said outer leg portions.
 2. parallel innerleg portions which extend forwardly from the bight portion and are longenough to overlie the upper edge of a board that has a rear faceengaging the front side of the post, and
 2. A clamp by which a board,such as a scaffold planking toeboard, can be releasably confined in anedgewise upright position against a post, said clamp comprising: A. afirst substantially U-shaped rod-like member having
 2. the legs of theother U-shaped member being parallel to the axis of curvature of itsbight portion and both projecting in the same direction; and B. meanssecuring the outer ends of the legs of said other U-shaped member to thefirst mentioned U-shaped member near the junctions of its inner legportions with its bight portion, with the legs of said other U-shapedmember projecting in the opposite direction to said outer leg portionsand parallel to them, and with the axes of curvature of said bightportions concentric, so that the bight portions of said members canembrace axially spaced apart zones of a post at one side thereof forconfining a board between the other side of the post and said outer legportions.
 2. outer leg portions which project downwardly from theextremities of the inner leg portions towards the lower U-shaped memberto overlie the side of the horizontal member remote from the sidethereof that faces the post.
 2. a portion that projects from the lastmemtioned portion in a direction generally toward the other element, tooverlie a front face of a board.
 2. parallel legs which project upwardlyfrom its bight portion; and C. means securing the upper ends of the legsof the second member to the first member near the junctions of its saidinner leg portions with its bight portion, said securement meansdisposing the legs of the second member parallel to the outer legportions of the first member and a distance behind them, to overlie therear face of a board, and disposing the bight portion of the secondmember concentrically with and beneath the bight portion of the firstmember.
 3. outer leg portions which project downwardly from said innerleg portions to overlie the front face of the board; B. a secondsubstantially U-shaped rod-like member having
 3. A clamp by which aboard can be releasably confined in edgewise upright position with arear face of the board bearing against a front side of a post, saidclamp comprising: A. a pair of rigid arcuate elements, each curved aboutan axis to be closely engageable around a rear side of a post; B. rigidelongated means connecting said elements and holding them in coaxial,axially spaced apart relationship, both opening forwardly; and C. a pairof elongated, rigid generally parallel board engaging fingers on one ofsaid elements, each of said fingers having
 4. A clamp by which anelongated horizontal member can be readily releasably confined againstan upright post, said clamp comprising: A. rigid post engaging means inthe form of upper and lower U-shaped members adapted to embrace anupright post with the bight portions thereof engaging the same side ofthe post at vertically spaced locations; B. connection means securingsaid upper and lower U-shaped members in aligned superimposedrelationship; and C. a paIr of retaining members fixed with respect tosaid upper and lower U-shaped members and by which an elongatedhorizontal member may be held against an upright post on which saiddevice is mounted, said retaining members having
 5. The clamp of claim4, further characterized by: outwardly projecting parallel fingers onthe extremities of said outer leg portions.
 6. A retaining device forreadily releasably confining an elongated member against an uprightpost, comprising: A. rigid post engaging means having upper and lowerportions both of which are engageable with the same side of an uprightpost at vertically spaced locations thereof; and B. retaining meansfixed to said rigid post engaging means and comprising a pair of rods,each bent into a right-angle with a short leg and a long leg, the shortlegs being joined to the upper portion of said rigid post engaging meansand projecting therefrom to extend across an elongated member which isto be confined against a post on which the device is mounted, and thelong legs having their free ends substantially in line with the lowerportion of the post engaging means and being equispaced from both theupper and lower portions of the post engaging means a distance toconfine the elongated member against the upright post on which thedevice is mounted.